daisychains7

I have heard the skin can tighten back a little, after a year or two and with exercise. Not sure if there's any truth to that, but I hope so.

Amen!!! Inspirational! Not having to hide anymore is a truly freeing feeling.

LOL, too funny!

Please don't be your own worst enemy by having unrealistic expectations right out the gate. This is a long term commitment and there's no rush. Give your body the time that it needs to heal. Follow the dietary instructions you've been given, and go for 10 minute walks if you're up to it.

Woohoo!! Congrats.

There are so many variables that contribute to how much weight you will lose and at what rate. Diet, amount/type of exercise, genetics, amount of fluid in your band. Your doctor will be able to answer that question better than any of us can.

Congrats!! Amazing feeling! Now go out and buy yourself something nice - you deserve it. I remember shopping for a pair of jeans a couple months ago. The saleswoman said I looked like an 8 and I laughed in her face as she handed it to me... until I tried them on and they actually fit. Surreal.

Thanks guys. I appreciate the motivation and you all look wonderful. I lost 40lbs during 6month supervised diet, and 115 post surgery (May 2012). So it took me about 16 months to hit goal. Everyone is different of course. @Lose100 Sometimes we are the last ones to recognize the change. There are many days I look down at my body and see myself as fat. The lapband vets here always say it takes time for our minds to catch up.

Wow it's been a while. Just checking in to say I'm doing alright and I hope that you are too. I've come down with the flu so I've been in bed two days straight, literally. My goal is to go for a walk tomorrow.

Stick to the plan. You are still healing from surgery and its unrealistic to expect any weight loss so early in. Drink plenty of water, walk when you can, and get some rest. You're doing just fine!

It's best to consult your doctor or nutritionist. We all have different plans. Generally, 3 meals and 1-2 snacks work for me.

Awesome! Congrats Debbie.

326lbs to 170lbs. Sorry, not the greatest pics.

I have a feeling you'll get a huge variety of responses. I had no gas pains, but my incisions and ab muscles hurt a lot more than I expected. When I first woke up from the OR my pain was an 8. Of course, pain meds work wonders and I was up and moving in a couple days. Didn't feel "good" until a couple weeks out.

Wow, you look amazing.

You look fabulous girl.

Try not to think of it as "good" or "bad". Life happens! We just gotta stick to our exercise routines, and eat well the majority of the time to offset it. I had a few big slip ups these past few days that I feel guilty about, but all we can do is move forward with a solid plan for this upcoming week.

I always get bloated. My band also feels tighter during that time.

I like Questbars (18-20g protein) and NUGO Bars (11g protein) the best.

Does anyone else get heartburn or reflux during their period? I always do - like clockwork! hate that metallic taste. Otherwise doing ok. Still trying to figure out if I need a fill. Breakfast - 1c kashi Cereal with skim milk lunch - 1 flax pita with ham, lettuce, tomato, 5 baby carrots with 1tbsp guacamole dinner - 3/4 baked sweet potato with 2oz ground turkey and black Beans, 1 tsbp light cheddar Snacks (had a few... Didn't stay full for long) - 1 nutrition bar with 1/4c blueberries, 5oz yogurt with 3 strawberries, 15 raw almonds Exercise - 30 min Couch to 5k. Starting week 5 now. Yay

I love that we are in the same spot in the program. I just finished Week 4 this evening. woohoo!! You are doing just fine. I would suggest bumping up to maybe a 4.2 for the last minute or 30 seconds of the jogging sections and see how you feel. I am going 4.5 or 4.6, my limit right now. My 5k is in a month. I am scared. Do people actually RUN 5ks? I feel like I could do a slow jog.

Well today was not so great. I go to my moms every Tuesday night and needless to say I gave in and had a piece of cake. :-/ I don't know why I can't say no lately!! Was within my calorie count but still not great. Breakfast - 6oz yogurt, 8 almonds lunch - 1 chicken breast, 1/4c sweet potatoes dinner - 1 chicken thigh, 1/4c mashed potato and veggie mix Dessert - 1 piece cake (small) snack - 1/4c blueberries, 1 nutrition bar Gym tomorrow!! Gotta do couch to 5k

Just doing the best I can till my visit next month. I am anxious to see if I can lose a couple lbs or at least maintain. I think about food 24/7 these days and get hungry more often. But I am determined not to over eat and not to eat unhealthy this week (except the weekend when I have planned to be out with friends/family). I have fought too hard to just give up. How are you doing Teara? Breakfast - 6oz skim milk, 1c kashi cereal lunch - 1 lean cuisine egg rolls with salsa, 5 carrot sticks dinner - 1 bbq chicken breast, 1/4c roasted sweet potato and mushrooms (yummy) Snacks - 6oz yogurt with sliced 1/4 banana, 1 Luna bar with 1/2c fruit Exercise - 30 min elliptical

Did okay today. I am trying to get myself back on track here. Will be grocery shopping tomorrow with a meal plan. Working out tomorrow too. Breakfast - 1c kashi cereal with soy milk lunch - 2tbsp Peanut Butter with flax pita, 1/3 banana, 5 carrot sticks dinner - 3oz tilapia, 1/4c eggplant, 3 pita chips with hummus snack - 10 almonds, 6oz Greek yogurt